Question
“It’s O.K. Father, we just want him to have plenty of water.”
The priest sank down into the green chair and picked up a glossy missionary magazine. He turned the colored pages full of lepers and pagans without looking at them.
“You know I can’t do that, Leon. There should have been the Last Rites and a funeral Mass at the very least.”
Leon put on his green cap and pulled the flaps down over his ears. “It’s getting late, Father. I’ve got to go.”
When Leon opened the door Father Paul stood up and said, “Wait.”
—“The Man to Send Rain Clouds,”
Leslie Marmon Silko
What inference can you make about Father Paul’s feelings in the beginning of the passage?
He is discouraged because he thinks that the people are nonbelievers like the ones he sees in the magazine.
He is discouraged because Leon sees the holy water as only water rather than as a holy symbol.
He is determined to fully convert the people to Christianity so that they will forget their cultural practices.
The priest sank down into the green chair and picked up a glossy missionary magazine. He turned the colored pages full of lepers and pagans without looking at them.
“You know I can’t do that, Leon. There should have been the Last Rites and a funeral Mass at the very least.”
Leon put on his green cap and pulled the flaps down over his ears. “It’s getting late, Father. I’ve got to go.”
When Leon opened the door Father Paul stood up and said, “Wait.”
—“The Man to Send Rain Clouds,”
Leslie Marmon Silko
What inference can you make about Father Paul’s feelings in the beginning of the passage?
He is discouraged because he thinks that the people are nonbelievers like the ones he sees in the magazine.
He is discouraged because Leon sees the holy water as only water rather than as a holy symbol.
He is determined to fully convert the people to Christianity so that they will forget their cultural practices.
Answers
Answer
“It’s O.K. Father, we just want him to have plenty of water.”
The priest sank down into the green chair and picked up a glossy missionary magazine. He turned the colored pages full of lepers and pagans without looking at them.
“You know I can’t do that, Leon. There should have been the Last Rites and a funeral Mass at the very least.”
Leon put on his green cap and pulled the flaps down over his ears. “It’s getting late, Father. I’ve got to go.”
When Leon opened the door Father Paul stood up and said, “Wait.”
—“The Man to Send Rain Clouds,”
Leslie Marmon Silko
What does the last sentence suggest about Father Paul’s attitude and motivation?
He is inspired by Leon’s interest in holy water and is willing to go to the burial.
He has given up on a Christian burial but wants to observe a traditional Pueblo burial.
He sees compromise as the only way to perform the Catholic burial.
He has decided to adopt the practices of the Pueblo to make them trust him.
The priest sank down into the green chair and picked up a glossy missionary magazine. He turned the colored pages full of lepers and pagans without looking at them.
“You know I can’t do that, Leon. There should have been the Last Rites and a funeral Mass at the very least.”
Leon put on his green cap and pulled the flaps down over his ears. “It’s getting late, Father. I’ve got to go.”
When Leon opened the door Father Paul stood up and said, “Wait.”
—“The Man to Send Rain Clouds,”
Leslie Marmon Silko
What does the last sentence suggest about Father Paul’s attitude and motivation?
He is inspired by Leon’s interest in holy water and is willing to go to the burial.
He has given up on a Christian burial but wants to observe a traditional Pueblo burial.
He sees compromise as the only way to perform the Catholic burial.
He has decided to adopt the practices of the Pueblo to make them trust him.
Answer
Which elements of traditional Pueblo spirituality are present in “The Man to Send Rain Clouds”? Check all of the boxes that apply.
sprinkling corn meal
honoring ancestral spirits
accepting death as rebirth
dancing in a kiva
having a Roman Catholic Mass
sprinkling corn meal
honoring ancestral spirits
accepting death as rebirth
dancing in a kiva
having a Roman Catholic Mass
Answer
“No thank you, Father. I only came to ask you if you would bring your holy water to the graveyard.”
…“Why didn’t you tell me he was dead? I could have brought the Last Rites anyway.”
Leon smiled. “It wasn’t necessary, Father.”
The priest stared down at his scuffed brown loafers and the worn hem of his cassock. “For a Christian burial it was necessary.”
His voice was distant, and Leon thought that his blue eyes looked tired.
“It’s O.K. Father, we just want him to have plenty of water.”
The priest sank down into the green chair and picked up a glossy missionary magazine. He turned the colored pages full of lepers and pagans without looking at them.
“You know I can’t do that, Leon. There should have been the Last Rites and a funeral Mass at the very least.”
Leon put on his green cap and pulled the flaps down over his ears. “It’s getting late, Father. I’ve got to go.”
When Leon opened the door Father Paul stood up and said, “Wait.”
—“The Man to Send Rain Clouds,”
Leslie Silko
Why might the author have included the detail about Father Paul picking up the magazine?
It illustrates the constant conflict Father Paul faces in trying to communicate with Leon.
It establishes Father Paul as a well-read intellectual.
It suggests that similar missionary work was causing conflict in other places as well.
It shows that he was trying to remind himself that he did not agree with the people’s beliefs.
…“Why didn’t you tell me he was dead? I could have brought the Last Rites anyway.”
Leon smiled. “It wasn’t necessary, Father.”
The priest stared down at his scuffed brown loafers and the worn hem of his cassock. “For a Christian burial it was necessary.”
His voice was distant, and Leon thought that his blue eyes looked tired.
“It’s O.K. Father, we just want him to have plenty of water.”
The priest sank down into the green chair and picked up a glossy missionary magazine. He turned the colored pages full of lepers and pagans without looking at them.
“You know I can’t do that, Leon. There should have been the Last Rites and a funeral Mass at the very least.”
Leon put on his green cap and pulled the flaps down over his ears. “It’s getting late, Father. I’ve got to go.”
When Leon opened the door Father Paul stood up and said, “Wait.”
—“The Man to Send Rain Clouds,”
Leslie Silko
Why might the author have included the detail about Father Paul picking up the magazine?
It illustrates the constant conflict Father Paul faces in trying to communicate with Leon.
It establishes Father Paul as a well-read intellectual.
It suggests that similar missionary work was causing conflict in other places as well.
It shows that he was trying to remind himself that he did not agree with the people’s beliefs.
Answer
wrong
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
The most accurate inference about Father Paul's feelings in the beginning of the passage is that he is discouraged because Leon sees the holy water as only water rather than as a holy symbol. This is suggested by Father Paul's insistence on the need for the Last Rites and a funeral Mass, indicating his concern for the proper religious practices that he believes are essential, in contrast to Leon's more pragmatic approach. The tension between their perspectives highlights Father Paul's disappointment in how Leon and possibly his community perceive and engage with religious rites.
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
The last sentence, "When Leon opened the door Father Paul stood up and said, 'Wait,'" suggests that Father Paul is grappling with a conflict between his religious duties and the practical realities presented by Leon. The best interpretation of this moment is that **he sees compromise as the only way to perform the Catholic burial.**
This interpretation aligns with Father Paul's earlier insistence on the importance of the Last Rites and how he feels unsettled about not being able to perform them properly. His plea for Leon to wait indicates a willingness to negotiate or find a solution that respects both his religious beliefs and Leon's perspective. It shows that he is seeking a way to still participate in some form of the burial ritual rather than outright abandoning it.
This interpretation aligns with Father Paul's earlier insistence on the importance of the Last Rites and how he feels unsettled about not being able to perform them properly. His plea for Leon to wait indicates a willingness to negotiate or find a solution that respects both his religious beliefs and Leon's perspective. It shows that he is seeking a way to still participate in some form of the burial ritual rather than outright abandoning it.
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
In "The Man to Send Rain Clouds," the elements of traditional Pueblo spirituality present include:
- **sprinkling corn meal**: This practice is often associated with Pueblo rituals and spirituality.
- **honoring ancestral spirits**: The acknowledgment and respect for ancestors is a common aspect of Pueblo beliefs.
- **accepting death as rebirth**: This concept reflects a cyclical understanding of life and death, which is often found in indigenous belief systems.
The following option does not align with traditional Pueblo spirituality:
- **having a Roman Catholic Mass**: This is a Christian practice and not a traditional Pueblo element.
So the correct boxes to check would be:
- sprinkling corn meal
- honoring ancestral spirits
- accepting death as rebirth
- **sprinkling corn meal**: This practice is often associated with Pueblo rituals and spirituality.
- **honoring ancestral spirits**: The acknowledgment and respect for ancestors is a common aspect of Pueblo beliefs.
- **accepting death as rebirth**: This concept reflects a cyclical understanding of life and death, which is often found in indigenous belief systems.
The following option does not align with traditional Pueblo spirituality:
- **having a Roman Catholic Mass**: This is a Christian practice and not a traditional Pueblo element.
So the correct boxes to check would be:
- sprinkling corn meal
- honoring ancestral spirits
- accepting death as rebirth
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
The detail about Father Paul picking up the magazine serves primarily to **illustrate the constant conflict Father Paul faces in trying to communicate with Leon.** The magazine, filled with images of "lepers and pagans," symbolizes the disconnect and cultural divide between Father Paul’s Catholic beliefs and Leon’s Pueblo traditions. By turning the colored pages without looking at them, Father Paul seems to be disengaged from the very missionary work he represents, indicating his struggle and perhaps his feelings of futility in connecting with the community he serves. This highlights the tension between his religious duties and the reality of the cultural practices he encounters.
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
I apologize for the oversight. Let's reevaluate the significance of Father Paul picking up the magazine.
The detail about Father Paul picking up the glossy missionary magazine could suggest that he was trying to remind himself that he did not agree with the people’s beliefs. The act of engaging with the magazine, which features images of "lepers and pagans," indicates his grappling with their perspectives and values compared to the traditional Catholic views he holds. It implies a sort of internal struggle with the mission he is involved in and highlights a sense of detachment.
So, the most fitting interpretation may be: **It shows that he was trying to remind himself that he did not agree with the people’s beliefs.**
Thank you for your patience, and I appreciate your feedback!
The detail about Father Paul picking up the glossy missionary magazine could suggest that he was trying to remind himself that he did not agree with the people’s beliefs. The act of engaging with the magazine, which features images of "lepers and pagans," indicates his grappling with their perspectives and values compared to the traditional Catholic views he holds. It implies a sort of internal struggle with the mission he is involved in and highlights a sense of detachment.
So, the most fitting interpretation may be: **It shows that he was trying to remind himself that he did not agree with the people’s beliefs.**
Thank you for your patience, and I appreciate your feedback!
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